That Feels Right! - Revelation 4 & 5
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Have you ever experienced something, whether good or bad, and the response that wells up from your heart and mind is, “THAT SEEMS RIGHT!”
Intro: Have you ever experienced something, whether good or bad, and the response that wells up from your heart and mind is, “THAT SEEMS RIGHT!”
1 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it.
3 The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side.
7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
Point #1: At This Point in John’s Vision the Scene Shifts to the Theater!
Point #1: At This Point in John’s Vision the Scene Shifts to the Theater!
In the progression of the vision John sees a scene in heaven...
There is an open door...
He hears a voice, speaking to him like a trumpet...
The voice says, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this!”
WHAT MUST TAKE PLACE: THIS IS A REFERENCE TO GOD’S PROVIDENCE!
Immediately John is in the spirit...
There was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. 3 The one seated[a] there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.
Who is at the center of all of the attention? Who is Most Important? (GOD)
This passage marks one of the major turning points in the Book of Revelation. Everything in the previous chapters concerns “things which you have seen” and “the things which are” (1:19). We now come to things which must take place after this (v. 1). To the dispensational view, after this, or, more literally, “after these things” [meta tauta] means after “the things of the church,” or after the church age. Thus the material in Revelation after this point will be fulfilled after the church is gone.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.
Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side.
7 The first living creature was like a lion;
the second living creature was like an ox;
the third living creature had a face like a man;
and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside.
Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
THAT FEELS RIGHT!!!
CONTINUING IN REVELATION 4:9
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
11 Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
Point #2: We See a Scene of Worship of the One and Only True God, a God Who is Worthy of Honor and Glory and Praise! And That Seems Right!!!
Point #2: We See a Scene of Worship of the One and Only True God, a God Who is Worthy of Honor and Glory and Praise! And That Seems Right!!!
The angel gives us a picture of the worship that takes place before God continually...
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever...
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever.
They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
11 Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.
CONTINUING IN REVELATION 5:1
1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals.
2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.
4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
Point #3: Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll with 7 Seals on It?
Point #3: Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll with 7 Seals on It?
The scene that John is seeing could not be more dramatic!
We are talking about the fulfillment of all things…the culmination of human history!
John proclaims: Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals.
2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.
NO ONE!!!
John has a emotional response to this...
4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open[a] the scroll or even to look in it.
There is always comfort with the Lord…God was not surprised at John’s response…it’s almost like God planned for an answer for John!
THE ANSWER IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN JESUS!
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and[b] its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders.
He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
OH SNAP: Gabriel and the Black Barber Shop (Is that Chief’s Red, no it’s Bulls red! (OOOOHHHHHHHHHH!)
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Point #4: This is Where It Gets Good: Jesus Takes the Scroll!
Point #4: This is Where It Gets Good: Jesus Takes the Scroll!
JESUS GRABS THE SCROLL AND ITS AN ABSOLUTE OOOHHHHHHH MOMENT!
Here we see the fall out of Jesus taking the scroll...
Here we see the fall out of Jesus taking the scroll...Tell down before the Lamb. (THAT FEELS RIGHT!)
Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (THAT FEELS RIGHT!)
9 And they sang a new song:
You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slaughtered,
and you purchased[c] people[d]
for God by your blood
from every tribe and language
and people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom[e]
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
(THAT FEELS RIGHT!)
WHAT DOES THE OPENING OF THE SCROLL WITH 7 SEALS REPRESENT? (one of the most controversial symbols in Revelation)
WHAT DOES THE OPENING OF THE SCROLL WITH 7 SEALS REPRESENT? (one of the most controversial symbols in Revelation)
Historicist Approach:
Historicist Approach:
• The unsealing of the scroll represents the beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire.
• The seal-sequence begins with the reign of Domitian (who died, A.D. 96) and follows the decline of the empire through
the invasions of the Goths and Vandals in the fourth and fifth centuries.
Preterist Approach:
Preterist Approach:
• The unsealing of the scroll represents the judgment of God upon Jerusalem (A.D. 66–70); 144,000 Judean Christians escape
to Pella.
• The four horsemen represent the Roman invasion of Israel to quell the Jewish rebellion (A.D. 66), bringing bloodshed, civil
war, famine, death, and ultimately the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Futurist Approach:
Futurist Approach:
• The scroll and its unsealing represent the Rapture of the church and the beginning of the Great Tribulation (4:1, according to
dispensational view); 144,000 Jews of the end times are sealed (saved).
• In the end times, the Antichrist rides forth conquering on the white horse; war, famine, and cosmic disturbances (possibly
nuclear war) follow.
Spiritual Approach:
Spiritual Approach:
• The scroll and its unsealing represent God’s dealings with mankind, seen in cycles of war, martyrdom, and judgment
recurring repeatedly throughout history.
• The visions underscore God’s sovereignty in the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms and His protection of the saints in the midst
of political upheavals, without tying these experiences to specific Historicist events.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Point #5: At This Point Everyone Worships!
Point #5: At This Point Everyone Worships!
The scene must have been overwhelming for John!
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.
12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
EVERY LIVING CREATURE!!!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
CONCLUSION: